Nutrient management is the practice of utilizing your on farm nutrients (manure) in a way that maximizes forage and crop growth, protects natural resources (soil, water, and air), and increases the efficiency and productivity of your farm. Manure should not be viewed as waste product, but rather as a valuable nutrient asset that when used responsibly, can increase the tilth and productivity of your soil, maximize crop and forage growth, and reduce the import of chemical fertilizer onto your farm.

Manure Application Guidence[19] - Every farmer should know the conditions that optimize their manure application and utilization. Get the most out of your applications while keeping your resources clean and safe by following the application guidence.

Part of properly managing your nutrients is knowing how to apply them in such a way that minimizes the risk of resource pollution, while also maximizes availability to plants. This ARM system was developed by WCD to help you through the process of properly assessing, managing, and reducing the risks associated with applying manure to your fields. The system is meant to be used in conjunction with your Nutrient Management Plan, which lays out the risks associated with your farm fields and how to individually manage them. The ARM analysis should be used year round, but is particularly important during periods of high risk (Oct-March).

This system expects to:

Give farmers more options for applying manure, while also meeting their storage needs.

Return responsibility to the farmer for when and how they properly apply their manure.

Increase yields and reduce nitrate leaching by applying manure at the right times and in the right amounts to meet plant needs.

Reduce late season (Oct-Nov) applications to risky areas, without increasing storage requirements.

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Links and Resources

DAIReXNET[27]- Click on the link to be directed to the eXtension website, which has a wealth of information, videos, and webcasts, on all different aspects of dairy farming including production, manure managemnt, regulations, water quality, and more.